Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-01-29
Good Report.

" >'SAr vi tilc
mining country, which are, at this sea-
son of the year, quite complete, con-
corning the results Of the past year,
show in the aggregate a marked i'm
provement in the results of the mining
industry. AS a whole, the conditions
affecting all forms Of business d. ring
the past year have been more than
usually unfavorab lie. particularly in
those portions Of the country remote
from capital centers and transportation
facilities. In many instances, also,
during n large portion Of the time,
prices for many Of the chief products
have ruled at such low rates, that mines
In operation were compelled to suspend
and many contemplated improvements
were abandoned yet, Notwithstanding
these unfavorable conditions, the result,
upon the whole, is satisfactory in more
points than one.
From the leading and more promi.
nent mining states and territories, the
amount Of production shows an increase
over that Of the previous year while
all give satisfactory evidence of a sub
stantial advance in the establishment
and development Of the many branches
of this important industry. In the re.
ports Of the result Of this business. an
injustice is shown which does not fairly
represent the actual condition of affairs
as the mineral product is estimated usu.
ally, not from the amount produced, bu,
by its market value, while in agricul.
tural reports the number Of bushels Of
grain is invariably given, more clearly
showing the product Of the seasons &C.
tivity. A more reliable and accurate
system would be to give the amount OF
ore produced, in tons, as it is well known
that the expense and time required to
mine a ton of ore at n price is as
great as for one which would make a
very different showing according to the
tiuctuation of market prices.
In addition to the encouraging fact
presented by the report or a profitable
reward for the investment of capital
and labor, a far more valuable effect is
expressed, particularly from the Older
established mining camps, as it is proven
by the most positive demonstration that
the mining industry is no longrer re-
garded wholly as speculative and un-
certain, but is becoming to be recogniz.
ed as Il perfectly reliable and legitimate
business, which must be prosecuted.
developed and managed upon the same
basis as any other branch of industry,
to secure the best results.
In many portions of the country the
practice still prevails of miners locating
everything to secure a large number Of
claims, and then calling for capital, and
in many instances where this is not
forthcoming from outside parties, the
most valuable properties, prospec,ively.
have been abandoned, and often such
reports given as to deter others from
making investigation and Improvement.
This feature, radically wrong, has had
too long an unfavorable influence upon
the development Of mining camps and
mining property. 1t is not founded
upon business principles, and therefore
cannot be expected to secure the best
results. 1t is not only injurious to the
locality, but in a measure affects public
opinion and the investment of money.
In mining locations, a policy some
what similar to that pursued by a~gricul-
turists in developing a new country.
would produce much better results and
give less room for speculative and dis.
honest practices, too commonly pre-
valent. The homesteader in taking DOS
session of his claim is restricted to a
reasonable amount Of land. His plan
and purpose is to depend upon himself
and his own exertions to bring it to a
productive condition, and the result is
permanent and in the aggregate wonder
ful. If miners were restricted i'm the
manner and located their claims